Author: Staff Writer

Source: Fox News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332031,00.html

Belarusian authorities released an independent journalist from prison on Friday, his lawyer said, a decision that appeared to be part of the authoritarian president's efforts to improve ties with the West.

Alexander Sdvizhkov, a former deputy editor of the Zgoda newspaper, had been convicted in January of...

Author: Mark Sappenfield

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0222/p01s01-wosc.html

Hajji Ali Akbar wants his country to be governed by Islamic law.

Yet in Monday's elections in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), he and many others voted for a party that rejects religion in politics. It has led many to herald these elections as a victory for secular democracy and as a sign of the failure of Islamic...

Author: Gregg Krupa

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/SCHOOLS/802210392

Even on this famously liberal campus, some University of Michigan students wonder what Muslims wearing head scarves and beards are doing hanging out with some of the Jews wearing yarmulkes. Why are they spending so much time together? Are they supposed to be doing that?

I mean, like, is it even...

Author: MARK MACKINNON

Source: The Globe and Mail

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/pop-preacher-sings-of-a-tolerant-islam/article18445431/

'Here...

Author: NEIL MacFARQUHAR

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/education/21muslim.html?

Amir Mertaban vividly recalls sitting at his university’s recruitment table for the Muslim Students Association a few years ago when an attractive undergraduate flounced up in a decidedly un-Islamic miniskirt, saying “Salamu aleykum,” or “Peace be upon you,” a standard Arabic greeting, and asked to sign up...

Author: Jim DeBrosse

Source: Dayton Daily News

Author: WILLIAM J. KOLE

Source: AP

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPG24fVmi0a_uUbMtmF_X4iX_4hQD8UU9BP00

Kastriot Sadiku has a confession: Like a good Muslim, he was near a mosque when Kosovo declared independence. But like a good Kosovar, he was just around the corner, sipping suds at his favorite pub.

As minaret loudspeakers broadcast afternoon prayers, "I was having a beer," said Sadiku, 25. "In the entire Muslim...

Author: Mark Rice-Oxley

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0220/p07s01-woeu.html

When it comes to leadership in the Church of England, the former Bishop of Norwich once reportedly said: "If you want to lead someone in this part of the world, find out where they're going. And walk in front of them."

Rowan Williams, who celebrates five years as Archbishop of Canterbury next week, could never be accused of...

Author: FOSTER KLUG

Source: AP

A senior Chinese official is trying to calm U.S. misgivings ahead of Beijing's coming Olympic Games about what the Bush administration sees as religious intolerance.

In Washington, the director of China's religious affairs bureau met with U.S. officials and spoke at Georgetown University.

Ye Xiaowen told reporters Wednesday, after talks with Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky, that China's peaceful development depends upon its respect for human rights and...

Author: Bruce Nolan

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=15001

American culture's view of American Muslims and Islam is steadily deteriorating under an onslaught of "bigotry" on cable news shows, newspaper op-ed pages and in the blogosphere, an Arab-American activist told an audience at Tulane University here Tuesday.

That's a significant shift, said Hussein Ibish, founder of the Foundation for Arab-...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: KMOV

http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/kmov_localnews_080219_mosquethreat.c8ea04a.html?npc

The FBI is just beginning its investigation into threats made against a mosque in south St. Louis.

Author: Anshel Pfeffer

Source: Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/955554.html

Russia's Jewish community is concerned about a possible government decision to allow the Pravoslav Orthodox Church to teach the principles of Christianity in all government schools. Now local Jewish leaders are trying to enlist Muslim community leaders in a fight against the decision.

Officially, Russia maintains a separation of church and state, but under...

Author: Kalpit Parajuli

Source: The Buddhist Channel/Asia News

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=39,5924,0,0,1,0

Hundreds of Muslim and Buddhist schools want to join the public school system after the government signalled its intention of recognising religious schools, but has set some conditions to do so, namely that such schools also use non-religious textbooks recommended by the government’s Education Board rather than rely...

Author: Edward Colimore

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20080219_A_bridge_between_faiths.html

When Zia Rahman celebrated the opening of the first mosque in Voorhees less than two years ago, he and fellow congregation members found they had built more than a house of worship.

They had built bridges to other faiths.

Author: SABRINA TAVERNISE

Source: The New York Times